Aircel slashes 3G data card tariffs

NEW DELHI: Intensifying the price war in the third-generation, or 3G, space, mobile phone company Aircel on Monday launched new price plans which it termed were the cheapest in the industry. The new plan offers unlimited high-speed internet access at Rs 8 a day, which is only Rs 3 higher than existing 2G data plans.

The fifth largest telecom company by subscribers said its '3G Aircel Pocket Internet Smart' data cards aimed at the youth, allowed high-speed internet access at prices that were same as 2G.

Making unlimited 3G data usage its USP, Aircel introduced plans beginning from 8 a day to 999 a month. The lowest costing plan allows internet usage at 3.6 Mbps speed up to 50 MB of data download while the plan on the higher side gives speeds up to 7.2 Mbps for downloading 10 GB of data. After reaching the limits, speed for every plan reduces to 128 Kbps.

The telco said its plans were available in all 13 circles where it has 3G operations and could seamlessly work on 2G and 3G devices. "The plan is an Industry first with an aim to offer possibilities through the power of Internet at an extremely affordable price and thus empower the youth," said Aircel's marketing head Anupam Vasudev.

Over the last month, leading mobile phone companies slashed 3G tariff plans. Bharti Airtel set the trend by cutting tariff plans for prepaid subscribers to 10 a day giving internet access for 30 minutes. High-speed 3G internet service can be bought starting from 45 for 150 MB for seven days to 1,500 for 10 GB for of 30 days.

Soon after, Idea cut 3G tariffs by up to 70% while the Indian arm of British telco Vodafone Plc pruned monthly rentals on its 3G promotional packs by a peak 33%.